Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA) works to bring together people and jobs in a 12-county region across South Texas, by providing solutions and resources for both businesses and job seekers. As it works to build a premier workforce with the skills needed for Alamo-area employers to gain a competitive edge in the global economy, WSA hopes to share with the community information that will inform, prepare and provide for that objective.

Note: This is an mySA.com City Brights Blog. These blogs are not written or edited by mySA or the San Antonio Express-News. The authors are solely responsible for the content.

Higher education helps San Antonio attract Fortune 500 company

All eyes on San Antonio? Why not? Prospective companies seeking to relocate their business notice that we have a vibrant and robust community. With a checklist of criteria, they surmise that San Antonio is the place to live and work. It’s no secret we’re in a tough economy and when companies are making cautious decisions to relocate or expand their business investment to our city, we can thank our community for a business friendly environment and the availability of a qualified workforce.

“San Antonio met all of the criteria that we were seeking in order to meet our business requirements,” said Edward J. Ludwig, chairman and CEO of global medical technology leader Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), in the Aug. 18 announcement that the company will bring nearly 300 good-paying jobs to San Antonio. “The excellent pool of potential employees and skilled labor, along with proximity to academic institutions, were significant draws, as well as the support we received from state and local officials.”

With 15 colleges and universities in the San Antonio area and access to more than 130,000 students, Mr. Ludwig is right about San Antonio’s workforce. San Antonio is an excellent choice for companies seeking a highly skilled workforce, especially in the scientific and technical fields.

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is counting on the community to support efforts to reach Tier One status. Investing in UTSA is an opportunity to grow and develop San Antonio’s human capital. UTSA educates nearly 30,000 students from 47 countries, four U.S. territories and more than 80 foreign countries.

Tier One status is a long-term process. With community support, we will invest in our own San Antonio by investing in UTSA. As a community in pursuit of excellence in education, we must not lose momentum on supporting our institutions of higher education. What we look like in the future is based on the decisions we make today.